Under current law, the maximum speed limit on any freeway or expressway in this state is 65 miles per hour. A "freeway" is defined as any state trunk highway with four or more lanes of traffic separated by a barrier or median (a paved or landscaped strip between opposing traffic) that gives preference to through traffic by limiting access to only interchanges. An "expressway" is also defined as any state trunk highway, but only a state trunk highway that the Department of Transportation (DOT) determines has four or more lanes of traffic separated by a barrier or median that gives preference to through traffic by use of interchanges or by limiting at-grade access to selected public roads and driveways.

Also under current law, if DOT determines on the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation that any statutory speed limit on the state trunk highway system is greater or less than is reasonable or safe or that the actual speed of vehicles is greater or less than is reasonable and prudent, DOT may determine and declare a reasonable and safe speed limit on the applicable highway segment and post the highway segment with signs imposing this modified speed limit. However, there are limitations on DOT's authority to modify speed limits, and DOT may not declare a speed limit greater than 55 miles per hour, except that the speed limit may be 65 miles per hour on a freeway or expressway.

This bill increases the maximum speed limit on freeways and expressways from 65 miles per hour to 70 miles per hour. This speed limit of 70 miles per hour does not take effect until DOT posts the limit by official traffic signs, but the bill requires DOT to post the 70 miles per hour limit on specified freeways or expressways within approximately one month after the bill's effective date and on all other freeways or expressways within approximately six months after the bill's effective date. The bill also limits DOT's authority to modify the statutory speed limit of 70 miles per hour on freeways and expressways. Under the bill, if DOT makes a determination following the process under current law, described above, that a reasonable and safe speed limit on a freeway or expressway is less than 70 miles per hour, DOT may notify the Joint Committee on Finance (JCF) in writing of the proposed lower speed limit. The proposed lower speed limit may be implemented by DOT, and DOT may post the applicable freeway or expressway with the lower speed limit, only if JCF expressly approves the proposed speed limit or implicitly approves the proposed speed limit by failing to schedule a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the proposed speed limit within 14 working days after the date of DOT's notification.

This bill also changes the definition of expressway to "a state trunk highway that, as determined by [DOT], has 4 or more lanes of traffic physically separated by a median or barrier and that gives preference to through traffic by allowing only some at-grade access to roads and driveways", and the definition of freeway to "a state trunk highway that, as determined by [DOT], has 4 or more lanes of traffic physically separated by a median or barrier and that gives preference to through traffic by limiting access to interchanges only."

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB389,11Section
1. 346.57 (1) (ag) of the statutes is amended to read:

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346.57 (1) (ag) "Expressway" means a state trunk highway that, as determined 3by the department, has 4 or more lanes of traffic physically separated by a median 4or barrier and that gives preference to through traffic by utilizing interchanges or 5limitingallowing only some at-grade access to
selected public roads and public6driveways. An "expressway" may include a highway that utilizes interchanges.

AB389,27Section
2. 346.57 (1) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB389,3,41346.57 (1) (am) "Freeway" means a state trunk highway that, as determined 2by the department, has 4 or more lanes of traffic physically separated by a median 3or barrier and that gives preference to through traffic by limiting access to 4interchanges only.

AB389,35Section
3. 346.57 (4) (gm) of the statutes is amended to read:

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346.57 (4) (gm) Sixty-fiveSeventy miles per hour on any freeway or 7expressway.

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349.11 (2) (d) Modify the speed limit stated in s. 346.57 (4) (gm), except as 10provided in this paragraph. If the department has satisfied the requirements under 11sub. (1) (a) and determined that a speed limit less than 70 miles per hour is a 12reasonable and safe speed limit on an expressway, as defined in s. 346.57 (1) (ag), or 13a freeway, as defined in s. 346.57 (1) (am), the department may notify the joint 14committee on finance in writing of the proposed lower speed limit. If the 15cochairpersons of the committee do not notify the department that the committee has 16scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the proposed speed limit within 14 17working days after the date of the department's notification, the department may 18consider the proposed speed limit to be approved. If, within 14 working days after 19the date of the department's notification, the cochairpersons of the committee notify 20the department that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of 21reviewing the proposed speed limit, the proposed speed limit is not approved unless 22it is expressly approved by the committee. The department may not post the 23proposed speed limit as provided in sub. (1) (a) unless it has been approved under this 24paragraph.

AB389,4,41(1) The department of transportation shall erect official signs giving notice of 2the limit under section 346.57 (4) (gm) of the statutes, as affected by this act, no later 3than the first day of the 2nd month beginning after publication, on all of the following 4freeways or expressways:

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(a) USH 12, from the Illinois state line to Elkhorn north of I 43, a highway 6segment of approximately 15 miles.

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(b) USH 14, from Madison south of the beltline to STH 138 in Oregon, a 8highway segment of approximately 10 miles.

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(c) STH 16, from I 94 in Pewaukee to STH 67 in Oconomowoc, a highway 10segment of approximately 15 miles.

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(d) I 39, from the Illinois state line to I 94 in Madison, a highway segment of 12approximately 50 miles.

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(e) I 39/USH 51, from I 90/94 in Portage to Merrill, a highway segment of 14approximately 125 miles.

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(f) USH 41, from Milwaukee to Abrams, a highway segment of approximately 16135 miles.

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(g) I 43, from I 39 in Beloit to Milwaukee, a highway segment of approximately 1860 miles.

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(h) I 43, from Milwaukee to Green Bay, a highway segment of approximately 20110 miles.

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(i) USH 45, from USH 41 in Germantown to West Bend, a highway segment of 22approximately 15 miles.

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(j) USH 53, from I 90 in Onalaska to Holmen, a highway segment of 24approximately 10 miles.

AB389,5,21(k) USH 53, from I 94 in Eau Claire to Rice Lake, a highway segment of 2approximately 60 miles.

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(l) I 90, from the Minnesota state line to I 94 in Tomah, a highway segment of 4approximately 45 miles.

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(m) I 39/90/94, from Portage to Madison, a highway segment of approximately 630 miles.

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(n) I 90/94, from Tomah to Portage, a highway segment of approximately 60 8miles.

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(o) I 94, from the Minnesota state line to I 90 in Tomah, a highway segment of 10approximately 145 miles.

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(p) I 94, from I 39/90 in Madison to Milwaukee, a highway segment of 12approximately 60 miles.

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(q) I 94, from Milwaukee to the Illinois state line, a highway segment of 14approximately 30 miles.

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(r) STH 172, from I 43 in Green Bay to USH 41 in Green Bay, a highway 16segment of approximately 7 miles.

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(s) STH 441, from USH 41 in southwest Appleton to USH 41 in northeast 18Appleton, a highway segment of approximately 10 miles.

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(t) USH 151, from I 39/90/94 in Madison to STH 73 in Columbus, a highway 20segment of approximately 25 miles.